Shootout figure charged with employment fraud

The probationer whose arrest led to a shootout and the death of a San Diego police officer in October was charged Friday with unemployment fraud.

He’s accused of claiming he was looking for work while he was behind bars.

Alex Charfauros, 26, was one of several people tied to the shootout that killed Officer Christopher Wilson, 50, at an apartment complex in the Skyline neighborhood. The officer was a 17-year member of the police department.

Charfauros was removed from the apartment before the shots were fired.

He and his mother, Gwendolyn Charfauros, 57, were charged with conspiracy to commit employment aid fraud, perjury and filing false documents, all felonies. He and his mother, who is out of custody, pleaded not guilty

San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski allowed Gwendolyn Charfauros to remain free on her own recognizance.

Alex Charfauros is being held without bail on a separate case.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon said after the arraignment that the mother and son are accused of conspiring to maintain unemployment aid since Alex Charfauros’ October arrest on suspicion of violating probation.

“The investigation thus far has revealed that since he has been arrested he has on multiple occasions reapplied for aid alleging that he’s been out looking for work when in fact he’s been in jail,” Runyon said.

Two weeks ago, Charfauros admitted he violated probation by using methamphetamine. His sentencing in that case was postponed until the new case is resolved.

If convicted of unemployment fraud, Charfauros and his mother each face prison terms of up to three years. He faces a two-year term in the probation case.

Probation officers and U.S. marshals went to the Skyline apartment where Charfauros lived to check on Charfauros’ compliance with his probation terms Oct. 27. The officers forced their way inside, arrested him and called for San Diego police backup to detain others inside.

Wilson and five other officers were met with gunfire when they kicked in the door to one of the bedrooms, authorities said. Wilson and a police dog were wounded. Three officers carried Wilson down the stairs to the apartment; he died hours later at a hospital.

The bodies of Holim Lee, 30, and Lucky Xayasene, 27, were found in a bedroom of the apartment after a seven-hour SWAT operation. Lee and Xayasene each died of a single, self-inflicted bullet wound to the head, the county Medical Examiner’s Office said. Police said Thursday that Lee fired the shot that killed Wilson.

More complete autopsy results on Wilson and Xayasene, released for the first time Friday, showed that Xayasene had drugs in her system, including a refrigerant sometimes inhaled for a “high,” Deputy Medical Examiner Jonathan Lucas said.

Lucas said Xayasene “was definitely under the influence” of methamphetamine, Ecstasy, marijuana and the refrigerant, chlorodifluoromethane, which sometimes comes in a spray can.

Lucas said he viewed the two bodies at the apartment and noted a handgun in Xayasene’s right hand. The autopsy revealed one bullet entered the upper right portion of her head and lodged in her brain. A second round pierced a fleshy area near her right elbow and may have struck Lee in the chest. Lucas said that round did not cause a fatal wound in either person.

“There is evidence that was one of the police rounds,” Lucas said of the bullet that went through Xayasene’s arm.

Lucas said Wilson died of a single round that went through the top portion of his head. Wilson survived for three and a half hours after being shot.

The distance between Wilson and Lee when the shot was fired was not clear through the autopsy, beyond the fact there was no gunpowder residue on Wilson’s skin, Lucas said.

“Evidence at the scene suggests it was over 10 feet,” Lucas said. “There was nothing to suggest it was friendly fire.”

Lucas did not perform the autopsy on Lee and had no details on the results.

Lee was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and for violating parole in an armed robbery case. Xayasene had a warrant for not appearing in court on drug charges and for violating probation.

Daniel Charfauros said outside the courtroom Friday that his son, Alex, has wanted to convey his condolences to the Wilson family for some time but was advised not to do so.

“It really has been haunting him,” the father said.

Family members said Alex Charfauros was living in his mother’s Skyline apartment at the time of the shooting, but she was out of town. Charfauros slept in his mother’s room and rented his room to Lee.